coalescent

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nounformal

   Tending to grow together, merge or join into a single mass or whole.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: coalescent droplets, not the droplets are coalescent.

   Patterns

   • coalescent with something

   Coalescent droplets formed a single pool on the glass.

   The coalescent tissue slowly bridged the wound.

   Under a microscope we saw coalescent spots joining across the leaf.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounbiologytechnical

   In genetics, describing a model that traces the ancestry of gene copies back to a shared ancestor.

   Grammar: Almost always used in the phrase coalescent theory or coalescent model.

   Patterns

   • coalescent theory

   The coalescent model helped researchers estimate population size.

   Coalescent theory looks backward in time to find a common ancestor.

   She used coalescent analysis on the genetic data.

Common combinations

coalescent theory

Coalescent theory is taught in advanced genetics courses.

coalescent model

The coalescent model fitted the sample data well.

coalescent droplets

Coalescent droplets merged into a single stream.

coalescent time

The study estimated the coalescent time for the two lineages.

Synonyms and how they differ

merging

Merging is an everyday word for joining, while coalescent is a formal and scientific description.

fusing

Fusing suggests a joining that is often permanent and complete, whereas coalescent stresses growing together gradually.

uniting

Uniting is used for people and groups, while coalescent is usually used for physical things or models.

Opposites

Word family

coalesce verb

to join together into one mass or group

coalescence noun

the process of merging into one

coalition noun

a temporary alliance of groups

coalescing adjective

in the process of merging

Commonly confused: coalescent or coalition?

Practice

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